Strategic Priority Fund (SPF)
The aim of this strand of the Department’s support for research is to fund those technological areas which have been identified by Invest Northern Ireland 
as being of strategic importance to the future economy of Northern Ireland.
The key objectives of the fund are:
- To strengthen the quality of areas of the Northern Ireland research base which feed into strategically important technological areas
- To provide the universities with a stronger base from which to lever additional external funding
The Strategic Priority Fund has a three-year lifespan, from 2004 to 2007. A total of around £5.5million will be distributed across those years. This funding is being directed towards Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) units of assessment with a current rating of 4 or above that contribute to these objectives.
For further information, please contact Martin Fullerton (tel: 028 9025 7693).